Surprised this hasn't been posted here yet:

Pics:
http://nissannews.com/image-gallery....ryId=400&mid=1

"2012 Nissan Maxima
The flagship Nissan Maxima continues to set the bar for Nissan sedans, combining breakthrough sports sedan styling, a driver-oriented cockpit, ample comfort and luxury for passengers and an advanced drivetrain anchored by Nissan’s legendary VQ-series V6 engine.

For 2012, the iconic Maxima receives a refreshed exterior – with a new front grille design, new rear combination lights, and new 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheel designs. Inside, the roomy Maxima interior’s enhancements include a new meter cluster illumination color (white), new Dark Piano-hairline trim, a new Atlantic Cheery wood tone trim and a new Beige interior color. There’s also a new audio segment display and new audio/HVAC **** design.

The other big news for the 2012 Maxima is the addition of a special Limited Edition Package, which features smoked appearance headlights, High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlights, a compass in the rearview mirror, 18-inch aluminum-alloy Dark Hyper Silver colored wheels, a rear spoiler, dark satin chrome front grille, fog lights, illuminated kick plates, outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and metallic trim on the center cluster, center console and door armrest grips.

In addition, two new exterior colors are offered for 2012: Java Metallic and Dark Slate.

Key features of the 2012 Nissan Maxima include:
• Standard 290-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve VQ-series V6 engine
• Standard Xtronic CVT® with manual and “DS” (drive sport) modes with available paddle shifters
• Independent front strut/independent multi-link rear suspension
• A wide range of available technology, including a Bose® premium audio system, RearView Monitor and Nissan Hard Drive Navigation system with XM NavTraffic? Real-Time Traffic information and XM NavWeather™ (XM® subscription required, sold separately) and Voice Recognition
• Available equipment packages include Sport Package, Premium Package, Tech Package and new Limited Edition Package – allowing customers to fine-tune their Maximas to precisely fit their specific needs and budgets

The 2012 Nissan Maxima is available in two models – 3.5 S and 3.5 SV. It is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in late summer 2011."

 

more chrome- eeeewwwwwww....

I really liked the 7gen, visually- all they needed to do was recess that grill further back 1 inch, add a small drop & I think the car would be t!ts.

I don't know why but this update seems to make the car a little taller, maybe it's the angles of the the images.

 

Very NICE! I can't wait to see them on the lot here in San Antonio.........hmmmmmm maybe a trade in???? LOL

 

Not liking the rims. Front does not look any different, maybe a new grill. All they did to the taillights was tint the red, much like most people on this forum have already done.

 

not much diffrent @ all. Glad I didnt wait. do like the rims though

 

the headlights are the same as the 2011's sport package...i DO like the taillights and the brushed aluminum accents in the interior, instead of the fake silver carbon fiber i currently have on my sport.... i don't really care for the wheels too much...they kinda look like the 19's on the 370...only the look better on the Z.

 

I have the sport mode and paddle shifters in my 2011.. I do like the brushed metal look, but not as much as my wood grain... maybe a new grill would be noce.. but really, its hard to improve this car.. maybe get batter MPG with your foot is out of her throat..

 

not much different.

 

At least now I know what the 370z RAYS wheels would look like on a 7 Gen.

 

M not impressed on the 2012 model. Not much different. Same look n design. If it came with 6mt then that b different. Will stick with my 2009.

 

Don't care much for the new grille. Too "Ford Looking" to me, but fashion comes and goes.

 

i dont like what they did , idk too much chrome maybe

 

No manual no care!

 

i was told they were gunna make the 2012 diesel powered i think and manual but i heard that idea was trashed

 

Not much different but i can see the changes.

Will check em out when they are released. Not feeling that grill but the rims and the rear lights look good!

 

new grill looks like a focus, tails are a little better but people are gonna tint em anyway, wheels are SOSO, only nice thing is the blue by the odometer and the aluminum trim and buttons on the inside, not impressed really

 

Doesnt look like it has the mesh webbing on the grill?? I Liked that part

 

New grill is fugly. I kinda like the wheels tho. I'll take my CF all day over that brushed steel for the interior trim.

 

I'm happy they arent truely noticeably changes on the max, which mines I'll stay in my 09 till they do a full redesign! New grille sucks no webbing like it's been stated before, but I do like the wheels!

 

Just picked up my 2011 Max yesterday and was so nervous to open up this thread. I really did expect a more dramatic refresh than the pictures show. I'm ok now

 

Still didnt fix the cvt issue lol.

 

Clear lenses on the tails = fail.

New wheels definitely look like a bad copy of the Rays 370Z sport wheels.

New grille... not too bad. Pretty clean design. Could stand to lose some of that chrome though

Headlights- as much as it pains me to admit it, I kinda like them

 

I like the new tail lights they look cool, will give a few the option to just swap out housings instead of vinyl or painting theirs a light tint.

HVAC controls look nice too

Grill would look straight in black, but after reading other comments it kinda does look like a newer American grill.

Wheels look okay but will probably look much better on a lowered Max. Be curious to see if anyone upgrades to these rims.

Brushed metal interior owns faux carbon fiber, looks cleaner IMO.

Def not enough to want to upgrade from my 09...

 

really like the taillights, definitely looks nice for sport. Really like the white inside, completes it rather than stand out.

Like my 2011 Sport rims more, and grill is so-so.

 

Looks the same

 

I want to see the 18" rims though, that was one thing I hated about the SV Premium Tech, those rims looks ugly and they share the same rim btwn a $40k car and a $30k car....bleh

 

After a second look, I do think they stepped up the interior trim a bit from that metallic silver chain-link to actual brushed aluminum accents.

 

Ditto

 

agree with the majority here, like typical nissan fashion, they did nothing to improve the look via "minor change" updates.

grille looks worse, tinted rear lamps looks cheesy ebay, wheels look too radical almost like the one on an infiniti 370z.

bmw M6 on a slammed a35 and call it a day.

 

I would not say ugly but, the 18 should have never been shared between the 2, hopefully the Premium gets a nice new design and the S/SV stays with the current 18's

 

This was actually a reason I opted for my S model. No leather seats, few toys, but almost indistinguishable inside and out from every non-sport Maxima. It looks more than it costs. I do think, though, that a car this size really benefits from 19s.

 

people are gonna be all over those wheels, i love em

 

exactly why I got the S as well, less amenities means less things to go wrong right ? haha

 

This refresh is probably the least drastic refresh since the 3rd gen.....You can look at a 6.5 gen, 5.5 gen or 4.5 gen and right of the bat see differences especially up front (bumper,lights etc), this not nearly as much. Interior looks exactly the same except for the color of the back lit odometer, also like a few have said they look like a knock of the rays on my Z (09-11 Sport rims fit this car so much better IMO). Those that these rims be prepared to get them snagged alot as they appear to thieves like the rays which have been hot on the theft market, also I do hope that they did something nice to 18's as they just didn't fit the 7th gens design that well. Overall nothing to write home about as far as noticeable changes, but I do see that S special package being a big seller if price right!

 

Wheels = dislike. It's probably going to be a love/hate thing when it comes to these new ones. I'm anxious to see the new interior color, though.

 

love the tail lights. that's about it.

 

I was thinking of waiting but, I'm happy with my 11 SV Sport PKG it almost looks identical. I'm still amazed how good looking these 7th gen maximas are.

 

Nothing much change..lil' things here and there..but overall its still the same body style...

I thought cars get a new face lift after 4 years..in 2012 its gonna be 4 years -

 

wow that is very ... boring

 

Redesigns (new generations) can come as often as in 4 years (1st, 2nd and 5th Maxima generations), but can arrive in 5 years (4th and 6th Maxima generations) or 6 years 3rd generation).

The nice, popular 7th gen design, coupled with the very sluggish economy, almost mandated that Nissan go at least 5 years with the 7th generation. The 2012 and 2013 models will be the 7.5 gen. The earliest we would see the 8th gen would be spring of 2013 as the 2014 model.